My All
"My All" is a song by American singer-songwriter Mariah Carey from her sixth studio album, Butterfly (1997). It was released as the album's fifth single overall and second commercial single on April 21, 1998, by Columbia Records. The song was written and produced by Carey and Walter Afanasieff. "My All" is built around Latin guitar chord melodies, and makes subtle use of Latin percussion throughout the first chorus, before taking on a more conventional R&B-style beat. Carey was inspired to write the song and use Latin inspired melodies after a trip to Puerto Rico, where she was influenced by the culture. The song's lyrics tell of a lonely woman declaring she would give "her all" to have just one more night with her estranged lover. It is the first song Carey wrote for the Butterfly album.[1]
For the Polo G song, see My All (Polo G song)."My All"
April 21, 1998
1997
- Crave, The Hit Factory (New York City)
- WallyWorld (California, US)
3:51
- Mariah Carey
- Walter Afanasieff
Mariah Carey
- Mariah Carey
- Walter Afanasieff
The music video for the song was released in March 1998. It shows many scenes of Carey laying on a submerged vessel in a large body of water, while lamenting her lost lover. Towards the video's climax, Carey and her love interest climb atop a lighthouse and caress each other under the night's sky. "My All" was performed live on various occasions, including the 1998 World Music Awards and Blockbuster Entertainment Awards, Saturday Night Live, The Rosie O'Donnell Show and various European television and music chart programs. The song was also part of Carey's 1998 Butterfly World Tour, and was performed during many future tours and concerts. House music producer David Morales remixed the song, which was performed live as a medley with the original.
"My All" received acclaim from music critics and charted strongly throughout various music markets. In the United States, the song became Carey's thirteenth chart topper on the Billboard Hot 100, and was certified double-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Throughout Europe, the song performed moderately, peaking at number four in the United Kingdom and in the top ten in Belgium (Wallonia), France, Spain and Switzerland. In France, due to strong sales, the song was certified gold by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP).
Composition[edit]
"My All" is a slow-tempo ballad, that blends contemporary R&B beats and Latin guitar and chord melodies, making subtle use of Latin percussion in the first chorus.[4][5] The song is described as having a "lush sound" and featured synthetic guitar arpeggios that were produced in the studio.[4] "My All" was compared to Toni Braxton's music style, described as "slink, slow-jam R&B sounds."[4] The song is set in signature common time and written in the key of G minor. It features a basic chord progression of Gm-Cm-D7-Gm.[5] Carey's vocal range in the song spans from the low note of B2 to the high note of F5, with the piano and guitar pieces range from G♭3 to G♭5.[5] The track was very different than anything Carey had ever recorded, incorporating strong "Latin cultured background."[4] The instrumentation and vocal arrangement used in the song was compared to Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds' productions, due to its "soft R&B coos and guitar melodies."[4]
Chart performance[edit]
Although "My All" was the fifth single released from Butterfly, it was only the second commercial worldwide release.[18] The song debuted at number two on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart behind Next's "Too Close" with 21 million radio airplay audience impressions and sales of 122,000 units. According to Billboard, the single was "deeply discounted".[19] It eventually became Carey's 13th chart topper in the United States, placing her in fourth place for most number ones in the US.[4] Also, it gave Carey the honor of having the most number ones for a female artist. It stayed atop the Hot 100 for one week, and was certified double-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of over two million units.[20] "My All" peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and eighteen on the Adult Contemporary chart.[21] It finished number seventeen on the Billboard end of year chart, and ninety-nine on the end of decade chart.[22][23] In Canada, the song entered the Canadian RPM Chart at number 89 during the week of May 18, 1998. In its fifth week, the song peaked at number 28, spending 16 weeks in the chart before exiting the week of August 31.[24][25]
"My All" performed weakly in Australia, peaking at number 39 while spending only two weeks on the ARIA Top-40.[26] In Belgium (Wallonia), it peaked at number nine, and spent 14 weeks on the Ultratop singles chart.[26] The song performed well in France, peaking at number six and spending 24 weeks fluctuating in the French singles chart.[26] "My All" was certified silver by the Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique (SNEP), denoting shipments of 125,000 units throughout France.[27] The song performed moderately in Ireland, peaking at number 21, and spending seven weeks on the Irish Singles Chart.[28] In Norway and Sweden, it peaked at numbers 14 and 15, respectively.[26] The song charted well in Switzerland, spending 21 weeks in the top-100, and peaking at number seven.[26] In the United Kingdom, "My All" debuted and peaked at number four on the UK Singles Chart on June 13, 1998, the highest new entry of the week.[29] The song spent eight weeks on the singles chart, until the week of August 1, 1998, where it dropped outside the top-100.[30] Sales in the UK are estimated at 160,000 units.[31]
Remixes and other versions[edit]
"My All" features two remixes: the first is a contemporary R&B version titled, "My All/Stay Awhile" (So So Def Remix).[32] Carey re-recorded her vocals for the song, while building it around a sample from the Loose Ends song "Stay a Little While, Child." Carey's vocal interpolation blends the first verse and chorus of "My All" with the verse and chorus of "Stay a Little While, Child."[32] It was produced by Jermaine Dupri and features raps from Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz. The single also features a version without any rap verses. The second remix is a dance version mixed by David Morales.[32] The dance remix is known as the Classic Club Mix; it was Carey's first collaboration with Morales that did not feature entirely new vocals. Consequently, the song is fairly close to the original chord progressions of the album version, though some new vocals were added. The remix was performed live as a medley with the original during many of Carey's live concert tours.[32]
Carey recorded a Spanish version of "My All" titled, "Mi Todo." Unlike with "Hero" (1993) and "Open Arms" (1995), Carey recorded the Spanish version of the song in a different key from the original English version.[32] The first line of the song had been mistranslated and was grammatically incorrect. Carey later mentioned on her website that she would no longer record Spanish versions of her songs until she could verify the correct lyrics and pronunciation.[32] "Mi Todo" was remixed as well, however only being released as a promotional single in Mexico.[32]
Music videos[edit]
"My All" and the "My All/Stay Awhile" (So So Def Remix) featured different music videos. The video for "My All" was shot entirely in black and white in Puerto Rico, and was directed by fashion photographer Herb Ritts.[4] The video begins with Carey lying on an overturned vessel on a beach, staring into the night sky, lamenting her estranged lover. As the scenes progress, Carey's love interest is seen atop a lighthouse in the middle of the ocean, searching for his lost companion. Further scenes show Carey laying on a large conch shell, wet and vulnerable.[32] Soon after, she begins walking on a path of large white flowers, until she reaches the top of the lighthouse where she is rejoined with her lover. After the song's second verse, Carey and the man begin caressing each other, and embracing atop the lighthouse. After they share an intimate moment, Carey is shown walking back on the trail of white flowers, smiling and happy. The scenes of Carey lying in the shell and in front of the flowers were inspired by Sandro Botticelli's painting The Birth of Venus.[4] According to author Chris Nickson, the snippets of Carey on the overturned vessel showed her vulnerability without her loved one, truly highlighting the yearning emphasized in the song.[4] Sony Music Video released "My All" on VHS on April 21, 1998;[33] it peaked at number six on the US Billboard Music Video Sales chart[34] and sold 6,000 copies by June of that year according to Nielsen SoundScan.[35]
A music video was also filmed for the So So Def remix. Directed by Diane Martel, it was shot in a grainy fashion to simulate a home video.[32] The video features cameo appearances by Dupri, Tariq and Gunz. It begins with scenes of Carey and Dupri at a small in-home gathering, lounging and enjoying each other's company. As the video progresses, the other two featured hip-hop musicians appear at the house, alongside various other guests. They begin to dance to music, while sipping on cocktails by the pool. As the video reaches its climax, scenes of Carey singing in an outdoor garden are shown, while the others join her on the pool deck.[4]
Cover versions[edit]
On February 25, 2014, Alisa Kozhikina, the representative of Russia to the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2014, won in the Grand Finals of Golos Deti, the Russian kids' edition of The Voice, performing a Russian version of the song called "Vsyo".[37] In 2020, Australian singer Greg Gould recorded a Spanglish version as a duet with Emily Williams for his album 1998.
Credits and personnel are adapted from the Butterfly liner notes.[44]
Recording
Management
Personnel